Myriad of options available when it comes to Chinese restaurants in Penang but many choose to travel far up the hill to Half Acre Restaurant (半畝田甕窯雞), at Balik Pulau. The new kid on the block stands out amongst fierce competition, the bright star at Balik Pulau offers one of its kind dishes that took social media by storm... kiln-roasted Chicken... served hanging and enjoyed with hands. The unique way of serving the Chicken appears to have originated from Taiwan. The restaurant settles in a village house amidst greens... offering an uncommon yet refreshing dining experience. They are not a one-trick pony... they do offer a range of Chinese dishes, including a series of invigorating Chinese Double-Boiled Soup and Seafood... mid-range prices; be there early or make your reservation, it was full to the brim on our visit and some had to leave with disappointments.
Taiwanese Ceramic Kiln-Roast Chicken 台湾甕窯雞 (Rm 49.90)
Cordyceps Flower, Dried Scallops and Black Chicken Soup 虫草瑶柱炖乌鸡 (Rm 32/ large)
Steamed Three-Eggs 家乡式蒸三皇蛋 (Rm 15)
Stir Fried Qing Long Vegetables with Sprouts 粤式青龙银牙 (Rm 16)
Taiwanese Ceramic Kiln-Roast Chicken is almost a must-order dish here and diners would have to choose between Original, Spicy, Sugar-Cane and Garlic-flavored Chicken; Original and Sugar-Cane are amongst the most ordered ones. We had the Sugar-Cane flavored Chicken but it barely registered any sweetness or distinctive flavors of the Sugar-Cane. We could detect a hint of Chinese Herbs but the seasoning was rather weak. We had to rely on the Five-Spice Powder as dip for the salinity. Texture was not silky smooth, just like any ordinary Roast Chicken (probably the selling point is the gimmicky presentation). Steamed 3 Eggs and the Stir Fried Vegetables were standard-average.
The only item that stood out to us was the Cordyceps Flower, Dried Scallops and Black Chicken Soup. They were generous with the ingredients so the Soup comes with an alluring aroma. It was reasonably seasoned as well and we like the fact that it was served in a thermally-insulated ceramic pot, the temperature was preserved and the soup was piping hot throughout the meal.
Ratings:
Taste: 7/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Service: 7/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Price: 7/10 (1-3 expensive, 4-7 average, 8-10 cheap)
Parking: 7/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Ambiance: 7/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Pork-Free
Service Charge: Yes 10%
Government Tax: No
Additional Information:
Address: Lot 403, Titi Teras, MKM E, 11000, Balik Pulau, Penang. *From Pekan, take the right route after round-about, same route to Botanica Mansion, drive along and you will find this place on your left along the way*
Business Hours: 12 pm to 3 pm, 6 pm to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: 604- 866 1151
At least they hang up the chicken like that, not bad, not like as one place here where they have a stainless steel shaft stuck into the chicken from the bottom - it looks...erotic, so obscene! :D :D :D
ReplyDeleteHopefully the chicken has a crispy and flavourful skin, did it?
ReplyDelete